Cheers to Your Health
National Nutrition Month is a great time to reignite good eating habits and overall wellness with your patients. At the National Pork Board, we also think it’s a great time to celebrate you – dietitians and health professionals across the country who are committed advocates for advancing the health of people and enabling them to accomplish their personal nutrition goal.

We believe National Nutrition Month should serve as a reminder to Americans of the importance of adapting healthy eating habits and offer them a chance to celebrate their accomplishments with those who support their wellness efforts. You!

We took this opportunity to reach out to registered dietitians for ideas and advice they successfully share with clients. A few of those are below, along with resources we hope you’ll be able to use this month and all year-long.

Energy for Life
Chere Bork, RD from Minnesota, offered up her unique, yet realistic recommendations for achieving wellness that she often shares with clients – how to get energized about diet and exercise.

• Energize without Calories -- Take a break every afternoon with a 10- minute walk. Ten minutes of moving your body can boost your energy for 1 to 2 hours. Not only will you energize yourself but you will release tension enabling you to come back with more focus and clarity and get more done!
• Energize by Dumping “Plate Perfection” -- Eat healthy 90 percent of the time and leave room for your favorites foods. A balanced diet is just one part of a balanced life…one to be enjoyed every day.

Pork – A Nutrient-Powerhouse
It may sound counterintuitive but Americans are not consuming the daily recommended servings of meat. A U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis of MyPyramid food group servings revealed that only 44 percent of individuals (ages two years and older) consume the recommended amount from the meat group , which is five to six ounces, or two servings for an adult.ⁱ

A serving of pork is three ounces and is a nutrient- powerhouse packed with essential vitamins and minerals, plus high-quality protein to aid in weight loss.

We asked three dietitians to share favorite pork recipes that they recommend to clients. These options are delicious, easy ways to include nutrient-rich pork into any meal plan.

• Liz Ward, MS, RD from Massachusetts recommends her Ham, Spinach and Egg Cups recipe that use lean ham that can leave you and your clients satisfied through the morning. In fact, a Purdue University study published this month in the British Journal of Nutrition revealed that eating a calorie-restricted diet with additional protein at breakfast, including Canadian bacon and eggs, led to increased feelings of fullness throughout the day.ⁱⁱ Feeling full while dieting is important for those watching their weight because it may lead to eating fewer excess calories later in the day.
  
• Chere Bork, RD suggests Maple Mustard Glazed Pork Roast with carrots and tomatoes. Serve with salad and a side of Brussel sprouts for a complete meal. Have leftovers? Chere suggests cutting the roast into thin slices for a sandwich at lunch the next day.
  
• Kim Galeaz, RD from Indiana loves the Asian Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple since it takes only minutes to prepare. Pork tenderloin is as lean as skinless chicken breast, so it’s a smart choice for those watching their waistline. A side of steamed snap peas is a healthy choice that complements the Asian-inspired dish. To save time, Kim suggests grilling the pineapples alongside pork tenderloin.

Tools of the Trade
As you know, in order to lead a long and healthy life, it is important to make informed nutritional choices and combined with solid physical activity. The following are useful tools available on porkandhealth.org that you can share with your clients as you work with them to build individualized nutrition and exercise plans:

• Nutrition News: The Latest Health Profile on Pork
  An updated health professional kit covering pork's role in a healthful diet supported by current research. The kit includes a white paper for professionals, three consumer handouts, a portion plate guide and a recipe brochure.
• Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide to Nutrition
  Health professional reference kit on the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, including practical nutrition and physical activity recommendations. The reference kit also includes reproducible handouts to share with patients and clients. The materials have been favorably reviewed by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
• A DASH of Prevention with Pork Kit
  Professional reference kit includes a comprehensive overview of the DASH research and five reproducible handouts.

Find additional resources and printable materials at http://porkandhealth.org/NutritionMaterials.aspx.

ⁱ_{Cook AJ and Friday JE. Pyramid Servings Intakes in the United States 1999-2002, 1 Day. CNRG Table Set 3.0 released online March 2005. (http://www.ba.ars.usda.gov/cnrg).}
ⁱⁱ_{Leidy H, et al. Increased dietary protein consumed at breakfast leads to an initial and sustained feeling of fullness during energy restriction compared to other meal times. British J of Nutr, 2009; 101, 798-803.}